New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production)
New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production)

New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production)

New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production)

If you are already employed, or wish to be employed in the organic horticulture sector, study the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production) to extend your knowledge and further your career.

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Key Details
Telford
Qualification:
Certificate
Level:
4
Credits:
60
Duration:

17 weeks full-time

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2021 Semester 2: 26 July to 02 December

Fees:

This programme is available for free under the Government's Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF).

International Students

  • $100.00 per credit

The New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production) teaches students skills and knowledge that are directly relevant to working with day-to-day operational management of an organic primary production operation.

You will learn about:

  • Factors influencing the development of organic horticulture in New Zealand
  • Biotic interactions within organic ecosystems, 
  • Characteristics of successful organic primary production, and integrating organic principles in primary production, 

You will also need to select focus papers on production and operation records, soil and soil nutrient management, composting and crop or pasture protection.

This qualification is ideally suited to people who are experienced workers in the primary industry.

COH200  Factors influencing the development of organic horticulture in New Zealand (10 credits)
This paper provides the theoretical foundation necessary for students to apply to the development of a viable organic horticulture venture. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Analyse the influence of social and cultural factors development of organic horticulture in New Zealand.
  2. Describe the relationship between land management requirements and the development of organic horticulture in New Zealand.
  3. Compare the factors which influence the viability of an organic horticulture venture in New Zealand.

COH201 Biotic and abiotic interactions within organic ecosystems (10 credits)
This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to discern the role of biotic and abiotic factors in the lifecycle of an organic production ecosystem. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: 

  1. Describe a full growing season for a specific organic horticulture production, including product lifecycle stages.
  2. Explain the influence of biotic and abiotic interactions on an organic production ecosystem.
  3. Compare the biotic and abiotic limiting factors for a specific organic horticulture production.

COH202  Characteristics of successful organic primary production (10 credits)
This paper introduces students to success factors within organic horticulture production, including the role of exporting organic horticulture products. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Characterise a successful organic horticulture product in New Zealand.
  2. Compare and contrast organic certification, organic exporter registration, and the Official Organic Assurance Programme in New Zealand.
  3. Describe the development of organic horticultural exports in New Zealand.

COH203 Integrating organic principles in primary production (10 credits)
This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate organic principles into primary production activities. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: 

  1. Describe the principles of biodiversity, integration, sustainability, natural plant nutrition, natural pest management and the relevance of these to organic horticulture production.
  2. Explain the role of the principles of organic agriculture as identified by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) with regard to organic horticulture production in New Zealand.
  3. Examine an organic horticulture product in New Zealand with respect to the integration of organic principles throughout the product’s growing season.

Elective - select 20 credits from the following: 

COH204  Production and operation records (10 credits)
This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and maintain production and operation records for an organic horticulture operation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Compare and contrast the recordkeeping requirements for different organic horticulture certification agencies.
  2. Describe the role of the Technical Rules for Organic Production (MAF Standard OP3, Appendix 2) in New Zealand.
  3. Develop a recordkeeping template for a specific organic horticulture operation.

COH205  Soil and soil nutrient management (10 credits)
This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate soil health status and establish a nutrient management regime for organic horticulture production. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Evaluate soil health status, including factors positively or negatively impacting on the soil health status, at a specific production area.
  2. Identify nutrient management strategies, compliant with organic production principles, to either maintain, or improve, the existing soil health status at a specific production area.

COH206   Composting (10 credits)
This paper introduces students to composting techniques and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake composting activities for organic horticulture production. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe composting and identify different types of composting activities.
  2. Evaluate the potential for different composting activities relevant to a specific organic horticulture production operation.
  3. Establish a management plan for the introduction of composting activities within a specific organic horticulture production operation.

COH207  Crop or pasture protection (10 credits)
This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake crop and pasture protection for organic horticulture operation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: 

  1. Describe crop and pasture pest plants and animals for a specific organic horticulture operation.
  2. Evaluate the efficacy of different control methods which also meet organic horticulture certification requirements.
  3. Establish a management plan for the protection of crop or pasture from pest plants or animals which meets the requirements for organic horticulture certification.

Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed as an:

  • ? Organic orchard/vineyard supervisor or leading hand 
    ? Organic crop supervisor or team leader or technician 
    ? Organic crop monitor 
    ? Organic nursery specialist
    ? Organic farm production supervisor or assistant supervisor
    ? Organic pastoral or arable supervisor
    ? Mahinga Kai supervisor
    Organic orchard/vineyard supervisor or leading hand
  • Organic crop supervisor or team leader or technician
  • Organic crop monitor
  • Organic nursery specialist
  • Organic farm production supervisor or assistant supervisor
  • Organic pastoral or arable supervisor
  • Mahinga Kai supervisor

Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2 as follows:

  • 60 credits at Level 2 or above, plus
  • 20 credits from any level, and

Literacy – minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either:

  • specified assessment standards available through a range of subjects and English for Academic Purposes unit standards 22750 and 22751 (minimum total of 10 credits); or
  • unit standards – package of three literacy unit standards (26622, 26624, 26625 – all three required).

Numeracy – a minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either:

  • achievement standards – specified assessment standards available through a range of subjects (minimum total of 10 credits), or
  • unit standards – package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required).

Mature Applicants 
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 530 (with an essay score of 4.5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2First for schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) 
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36 
Language Cert - B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than pass in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production, Livestock Production), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

  • A minimum of 60 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production, Livestock Production).
  • The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production, Livestock Production) full-time over 6 months or part-time over 2 years.

Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

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